Limerick City

Limerick City is sited on one of Europe's finest rivers, the River Shannon. A Viking City, one can only imagine the 9th century scenes, when fleets of Viking vessels sailed up the river to plunder and terrorise the monastic midlands. In later centuries these Norsemen settled and founded the trading port of Limerick which to-day is a proud, progressive and thriving City with a charter older than that of London. Its castles, ancient walls and museums are testament to its dramatic past. Particularly worth viewing is King John's Castle in its Heritage precinct and the magnificent Hunt Museum in Limerick's Custom House. This museum houses an internationally important collection of some 2,000 original works including pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Renoir and Picasso.

Places to visit in and around Limerick

BunrattyCastle is one of the finest surviving examples of an Irish tower house. Although it is hard to believe that the castle has had a bloody and violent history. Its strategic position on the river Shannon made it the centre of many a battle.

The Folk Park adjoins the castle and aims to show what everyday life was like in rural Ireland about 100 years ago. It contains reconstructed farmhouses, cottages and shops, and care has been taken to make them as authentic as possible, particularly with regard to furnishings.

Cliffs of Moher are situated in County Clare and bordering the Burren Area, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most spectacular sights. Standing 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. A walk along the cliffs is not to be missed. Those with a head for heights can easily walk to the edge of the cliff and view the Atlantic Ocean below.

The Burren lies south of Galway in County Clare, Ireland. The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation has lain unspoiled since the ice-age and is composed of karstic limestone, the largest area of such in western Europe. This area has some of the finest archaeological megalithic tombs in Ireland, if not in Western Europe. In this area alone there are more than 60 wedge tombs and the densest concentration in Ireland.

The Ring of Kerry One the most famous and popular road circuits for tourists in the South West of Ireland, the Ring of Kerry, traverses the coastline of the Inveragh Peninsula, with a great many tourist sites along the way. Dramatic panoramas, majestic mountain shapes, ancient sites and towns are found along the winding route of the N70 through the southern tip of Kerry, known as the Ring of Kerry.

Dingle Peninsula, Europe's most westerly town and sheltered by hills on three sides, the harbour is one of the world's natural beauty spots - home to an active fishing fleet and resident dolphin - FUNGI. It has a diving centre, sailing club, art galleries, traditional craft and excellent accommodation. Dingle has many eccentric & colourful pubs and fine restaurants, offering entertainment and traditional Irish music unique to the area.